Effect of subcutaneous depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) on serum androgen markers in normal-weight, obese, and extremely obese women

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) Vol. 86; no. 6; pp. 739 - 745
• Main Authors: Segall-Gutierrez, Penina, Du, Joanna, Niu, Chunying, Ge, Marshall, Tilley, Ian, Mizraji, Kelly, Stanczyk, Frank Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Androgen Antagonists - administration & dosage; Androgen Antagonists - adverse effects; Androgens - blood; Androstane-3,17-diol - analogs & derivatives; Androstane-3,17-diol - blood; Androstenedione - blood; Biomarkers - blood; Body Mass Index; Contraceptive Agents, Female - administration & dosage; Contraceptive Agents, Female - adverse effects; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood; Drug Implants; Female; Humans; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - administration & dosage; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate - adverse effects; Obesity - blood; Obesity - metabolism; Obesity, Morbid - blood; Obesity, Morbid - metabolism; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - analysis; Subcutaneous Tissue; Testosterone - blood; Time Factors; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.05.148

The effects of subcutaneous depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) injection on androgenic markers in obese women have not previously been studied. Five normal-weight [body mass index (BMI)=18.5-24.9 kg/m²], five obese (BMI=30-39.9 kg/m²) and five extremely obese (BMI≥40 kg/m²) women were recruited for this prospective experimental study in which 104 mg DMPA-SC was administered at baseline and 12 weeks later. Serum levels of total testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), 3α-androstanediol glucuronide and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were quantified by immunoassay methods at baseline and at 13 and 26 weeks following the first injection; free T was calculated. At baseline, obese women had lower levels of A and SHBG and higher total and free T levels than normal-weight women. There were a statistically significant decrease in the levels from baseline to week 26 among all three BMI classes for A, total T and SHBG (p≤.03) and an increase from baseline to week 26 in weight (p=.02). In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in DHEAS from baseline to week 13 among all three BMI classes (p=.01), which was not sustained at week 26 (p>.1). Overall, the three groups responded similarly to all changes at week 13, and there were no statistically significant differences between groups at any time point (p≥.06). DMPA-SC use in normal-weight, obese and extremely obese women can decrease serum androgen markers.